Electrical receptacle



Filed DeG. 1'9, 1932 Patented Jan. 2l, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,028,500 ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE John Knell, Aurora, Ill.,

assignor to All-Steel- Equip Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation o f Illinois Application December 19, 1932, Serial No. 647,948

5 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical receptacles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a division wall in electrical receptacles so as to make one box capable of performing the function of two or more, and which further consists in providing projecting means or tongues on the division wall so that the division wall will have complementary interlocking engagement with the body of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch box of the gangable type whereby a plurality of switch boxes may be connected together and providing a universal division wall between boxes so that one box may be used for high voltage equipment, such as an electric lighting system, while the adjacent box may be used for housing low voltage equipment, such as door bells, service bells, radio connections, etc.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail perspective view of a pair of switch boxes of the gangable type connected together and having the improved universal division, wall arranged between the boxes.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one switch box with one end wall removably fastened thereto.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a division wall and embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.v

Referring to the drawing, I designates a switch box having a bottom 2 and integral side walls 3 and 4. The side walls 3 are provided on one edge thereof with a lug 5 and a recess or slot 6, and on their other side with a depressed portion l and an outwardly extending lip 8. The side wall has the depression I and the extension 8 formed on the same side of the box as the pro' jection or lug 5 and slot 6 occur on the side wall 3. The side wall 4 likewise has the projection or lug 5 and the slot 6 formed on the same side thereof as the depression l and the end 8 are formed on the wall 3. Thus, on the same side of the box the side wall 3 will have the lug or projectionSand the recess 6, and the wall 4 will have the depression 'I and the projection or lip 8. When a pair of boxes are arranged in adjacent or in gangable formation, the lug or projection 5 on a side wall 3 of one box will fit into the depression 'I and overlie the ear 8 on the side wall 3 of the adjacent box. The same is true relative to the sides 4 of adjacent boxes. The ears 8 on the boxes are provided with threaded openings 9 to receive screws I 0. Thus, when the boxes are arranged in gangable position with the lug 5 overlying the ear 8, the slot i5 will be directly in alinement for cooperation with the hole 9, and when the screws I0 are tightened in position the boxes are locked together in interlocking gangable formation.

End walls II, I I are adapted for interlocking cooperation with the outer edges of the box. These end walls each have a depression E3 and an ear i 4 on one edge thereof and a cut-away portion I5 and indented surface I6 on the other edge thereof. The ear I4 extends over the edge of the box and has a neck portion which is received in the slot 6 and has abutting relationship with the lug 6. The ear 8 fits into the cut-away portion I5 and a screw I0, which has threaded engagement with the ear, extends down into the indenture I6 and thereby holds each end wall tightly in position against the outer edges of the exterior boxes. Each switch box, including the side walls and end walls, may be provided with a plurality of knockouts I1 through which a conduit or cable may pass for leading the electric conductors to the interior of the box. Also, the box may be provided with a plurality of holes I8 to receive fastening members (not shown) to fasten the switch box to various members. Ears I9 may also be integrally formed on the box for the reception of fastening means through the holes 20 provided therein for fastening the switches to the switch box. The switch box itself comprises no part of the present invention except in its relationship to a division wall or barrier 2I which may be used between adjacent boxes.

The dividing wall or barrier 2I cutout notches 22 on Opposite sides thereof so that when the barrier 2| is positioned between boxes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the normal end edges 23 of the barrier will bear against the normal inner edges of the side walls of the box, while the cutout portions 22 will receive the lower` sides of the ears 8 which are depressed downwardly at 'i'. The ends of the barrier 2I are also provided with extending :lingers 24 and 25 which fingers protrude outwardly from the surface 23 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the material from which the boxes are made. The lingers 24 are spaced from the edge 2S of the barrier, while the ngers 25 are located at the is provided with ends of the box and are co-extensive with the edge 2l thereof, Fig. 3.

One side of each side wall of each box is provided with a slot 28 and a notch 29 which receive respectively the tongues or fingers 2@ and 25. The widths of the slots and notches 28 and 29 are substantially the same as the thickness of the metal from which the barrier wall is made so that when the barrier wall is positioned between boxes with the tongues or fingers 2Q and 25 engaging the slots and recesses 28 and 29, the exterior edge of the barrier Will be flush with the outer edge of the switch box with which the barrier wall has complementary engagement.

The barrier wall is so constructed that either side of the barrier wall will have complementary engagement with a switch box regardless of which face is turned toward the box, but is incapable of being inserted upside down. The notch construction 22 permits this end for end engagement with the box and allows room for the indented portion 7. The barrier plate, when inserted in position against the end wall of a box, is prevented from moving vertically because the fingers or tongues 24 bear against the abutments or shoulders and 3l. The barrier wall 2i is further restricted from having side sway or lateral movement when arranged in position between a pair of boxes because the edges 32 of the boxes will bear against the face of the barrier plate and when the screws I are screwed down into fastening engagement, the barrier wall is prevented from vertical or lateral movement and is firmly held in position. Therefore, division walls may be placed between boxes regardless of the number of boxes arranged in gangable formation. Furthermore, in such instances where a large switch box is required, two of the-boxes may be fastened together and the barrier wall omitted. The barrier wall 2| may also be provided with a knock-out 33 of substantial size so that the necessary connections from one box to another, to transformers, etc., may be made through the barrier wall whenever such connection is required. Where such connection is not required, the knockout 33 is allowed to remain in position. Where a transformer is used for reducing the current to low voltage devices, a guard 3ft4 may be fixed to one or both sides of the barrier plate. This transformer guard or support 34 may be fastened to the barrier by means of a rivet 35 passing through alined openings 36 in the barrier plate and in the bracket Sli.

The invention provides a barrier plate or division wall for separating a switch box or other like receptacle and is adaptable for universal operation; The particular barrier plates herein shown provide new and further uses for the boxes, permit the old boxes to be stocked and still render them capable of new and additional uses without adding to the expense of the manufacture of the boxes.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. The combination with a switch box body adapted to be arranged in adjacent contacting relationship with another box body of like construction, means on said bodies for fastening them together to form a single unitary structure, one of said bodies having notches provided on opposite side edges thereof and in alinement with each other, a removable barrier plate for separating said bodies, said plate having tongues extending into said notches whereby the barrier plate will lie solely within the boundary of one body and be maintained in xed position when a pair of said bodies are fastened together, said plate being prevented from having lateral movement by the tongues being held in said notches due to the material of both of said bodies engaging opposite sides of the plate, said notches being as deep as the thickness of the material from which the barrier plate and tongues are made whereby the outer wall of the barrier plate when arranged between bodies will be substantially flush with the outer edges of the body having the notches.

2. The combination with a switch box body adapted to be arranged in adjacent contacting relationship with another box body of like construction, means on said bodies for fastening them together to form a single unitary structure when so fastened, there being openings provided along the line of juncture of the bodies, a removable barrier plate separating said bodies, said plate having tongues extending through the openings whereby the barrier plate will be held between the two bodies and maintained in position when the bodies are fastened together.

3. The combination with a switch box body adapted to be arranged in adjacent contacting relationship with another box body of like construction, means on said bodies for fastening them Ytogether to form a single unitary structure, one

of said bodies having notches provided on opposite side edges thereof and in alinement with each other, a removable barrier plate for separating said bodies, said plate having tongues extending through said notches whereby the barrier plate will be held and maintained in xed position when a pair of said boxes are fastened together.

4. An electrical receptacle comprising a plurality of box body members arranged in contacting relationship to form a gang receptacle, means for securing said body members together, and a barrier plate adapted to lie within said receptacle between adjacent body members, adjacent edges of said body members co-operating to form an opening through said receptacle, said plate having a securing projection projecting through said opening whereby said plate will be held in position when said body members are secured together.

5. An electrical receptacle comprising a plurality of box body members adapted to be arranged and secured together in juxtaposed position to form a gang receptacle, a barrier plate adapted to `lie transversely within said receptacle between adjacent body members, coperative interfltting means on the plate and body members to positively secure the plate in position when the body members are secured together, said body member means being rendered operative as the body members are brought into operative juxtaposed position, and means on the body members to secure them together, said last named means being operatve whether or not the Ybarrier plate is in place between the body members.

J OHN KNELL. 

